Case Number 24764

PORTLANDIA: SEASON TWO (BLU-RAY)

The Charge

Too cool for its own home school?

Opening Statement

Humor has a history of two-person talent showcases. From The Kathy and Mo
Show, to Little Britain and Greater Tuna, the idea of actors
playing multiple roles as a reason for some sort of satiric commentary has
carried many a duo to fame and fortune. In the case of IFC's cult hit
Portlandia, Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen and Wild Flag's
singer/guitarist Carrie Brownstein want to take on the new-age hipster hokum of
the Pacific Northwest. Their partnership developed on the web, and when the
cable channel came calling, they got the chance to centralize their premise and
place their wit within the confines of a community that values both the eclectic
and the downright deranged. For the most part, Armisen and Brownstein hit their
marks with effectiveness and ease. But as with any sketch-based format, there is
a hit or miss quality that belies the format's nonfatal flaw.

Facts of the Case

Taking on different personas while maintaining certain character constants,
Fred and Carrie in a typical episode of Portlandia get into some manner
of mix-up, while other "personas" around them deal with their own unusual and
often intertwining issues. Set within the fabled Oregon town and populated with
a wide range of oddballs, weirdoes, intellectuals, and clearly fictional found
elements, it's a mad, mad, mad, mad, mad menagerie. There are an unusual number
of quirky cameos (Eddie Veder, Miranda July, Johnny Marr) and a piecemeal
approach to every 20-minute installment. Sometimes a sketch will be incredibly
brief. Other times it will overstay its welcome. Then there are times when a
clever idea is underserved by the scattered style. Still, within the 10 episodes
offered in Season Two are a lot of funny moments and some real insight into life
in the United States circa 2012.

While there are several stories going on in each installment, here are the
main narrative "themes" for each of the shows:

* "Feminist Bookstore 10th Anniversary" -- The arrival of an old friend
upsets a celebration.

* "No Olympics" -- The idea of having said international Games in Portland
is hotly debated.

* "Brunch Village" -- A new eatery has the town up in arms, much to the
dismay of the "regulars."

The Evidence

For all its hipster smarm, for its desire to be so self-referential and
ironic that it practically screams for a Death Cab for Cutie meets Mumford &
Sons backdrop, Portlandia is a show of subtle pleasures. It's the
difference between a smile and a snicker, a grin and a guffaw. Sometimes, a
proposed comedy just doesn't light up the laughter meter. Instead, it tickles
your internal funny bone, making you aware of its potential as comedy, but not
its clear ability to earn entertained chuckles. There's no denying that most of
Portlandia is clever and smart. It comes from a place of real
understanding -- about the subject, the situations, and the setting. But you
won't find yourself doubled over in uncontrollable fits because of what Armisen
and Brownstein create. Instead, you will enjoy a private giggle recognizing that
people will be divided by the very thing you are tickled by...maybe.

The cast really reflects this uncomfortable appreciation. Both Armisen and
Brownstein are unusual leads, each one providing a weird level of likeable
un-likeability. They aren't instantly accessible comic performers, celebrities
that kick start your affection with an arch of an eyebrow or a worn-out
catchphrase. As a matter of fact, there are times (especially during obvious
targeting like vegans, feminists, New Agers, and druggies) when you want to slap
them in the face. Portlandia is a very insular show. It speaks to a
specific mindset that, hopefully, expands beyond the tiny to become a bit more
universal. Granted, few people can fathom how life can be so snarky and fixated
on minutia, but the cast comes together and provides a window into this
eccentric world. As stated before, they hit their mark, but as this is a
sketch-oriented show (with continuing characters and circumstances), there will
be misses as well. Besides, there is only so much pretension one can take...and
this can be a very pretentious experience.

Overall, Season Two cements what made the show such a cult hit in the first
place. Though it's an old cliche, whenever Armisen dresses in drag (as when we
visit the Women and Women First bookstore), the results are truly funny.
Watching the duo work every conceivable anti-male agenda item into a short comic
piece is priceless. Similarly, when the duo take on the nouveau riche
transplants from their hated Southern neighbor, the results really zing. And
let's just say that, obsessing on Battlestar Galactica wins points for
its pure glorified geek goodness alone. Still, Portlandia can be a
bit...how can I say it...puzzling?...especially if you just walked into the
series for the first time. There will be questions -- like what's so funny about
saying "we can pickle that" over and over? Or why are some of the guest stars
used brilliantly (Kyle McLachlan, Penny Marshall, Jeff Goldblum) while others
seem inserted to merely up the "cool" factor. Is unusual international cuisine
funny? And, is a harp ever hilarious? In general, you'll find more to love about
Portlandia: Season Two than hate. Still, there's enough backslapping
satire to aggravate your inherent irritation factors.

Since it is filmed in the actual city under more or less natural conditions,
one would expect any digital release of the series to suffer a bit. For the most
part, however, the 1.78:1/1080p presentation of Portlandia is very good,
with a couple of caveats. First off, there is not the level of contrast and
detail one would normally expect from a shot on video and transferred to HD TV
show. Colors are slightly muted, and the overall feel is a bit flat. Still, the
overall effect is very good. Sonically, we are stuck with a plain Dolby Digital
2.0 mix: nothing lossless, no attempt to engage the back channels or
multi-speaker set-ups. On the other hand, the dialogue is always crystal clear
and easy to understand, and since it is the driving force of the series, that's
all that matters. As for extras, we get a director's cut of "Brunch Village," as
well as a behind-the-scenes featurette, a deleted scene, a brief bit about
Seattle, and an excerpt from an upcoming Portlandia tour guide. Finally,
Armisen, Brownstein, and series co-creator Jonathan Krisel comment on four
episodes. They do a great job of pointing out unknown elements and incredibly
insular references.

Closing Statement

With Season Three set for a January 2013 premier, it appears that Armisen and
Brownstein still have more to say (and savage) about their favorite Pacific
Northwest whipping boy. For those who think that everything about the series
satisfies their own internal sense of humor, this is nothing but good news. But
for those of us (yours truly included) who feel a bit like outsiders uninvited
to the block party, here's hoping that Portlandia finds a bit more
consistency...in tone, in target, and in timing. Clearly, the source is an
infinite well of weirdness. Channeling that successfully has, so far, been an
inconsistent outing...funny and fun, but not without its issues.